# The Wanderings of Arasmon explained — The Necklace of Princess Fiorimonde

> Chapter companion for The Necklace of Princess Fiorimonde by Mary De Morgan.

## What happens

Arasmon and his wife Chrysea, a wandering musician and singer, arrive in a spellbound village where a wizard's elves have caused misery. Chrysea learns a magic song from the elves and breaks the spell, but is transformed into a golden harp as punishment. Arasmon searches for her, playing his harp to guide fishermen and inspire soldiers, unaware that the harp is Chrysea.

## Themes in this chapter

### Magic and Its Dangers

The elves' magic brings suffering to the village and ultimately transforms Chrysea into a harp as punishment for thwarting them.

### Love and Sacrifice

Arasmon's relentless search for Chrysea and his continued playing of the harp, which unknowingly is his wife, demonstrates his deep love and devotion.

### Appearance vs. Reality

The golden harp appears as an object but is actually Chrysea transformed; Arasmon does not recognize her despite hearing her voice in the strings.

## Character check-ins

### Arasmon

A wandering musician who searches for his wife Chrysea after she disappears, playing his harp to help others.

### Chrysea

Arasmon's wife and singer who breaks the elves' spell but is transformed into a golden harp.

## Key lines

> Chrysea listened eagerly to their singing, and no sooner had they done, than she opened her lips and sang the same tune through from beginning to end just as she had heard it.

Chrysea carefully listened to the elves' song and then immediately sang it back exactly as she had heard it.

_Chrysea learns the magic song that breaks the spell._

> Let us change her to no bird or beast, but to a bright golden harp, and thus shall she remain, until upon her strings someone shall play our tune, which she has dared to sing.

The elves decide to transform Chrysea into a golden harp, and she will stay that way until someone plays their tune on her strings.

_The elves punish Chrysea by turning her into a harp._

> Arasmon took his harp and began to play, and its music floated over the water for miles through the darkness, but the women were weeping so for their husbands, that they did not heed it.

Arasmon played his harp, sending music across the dark water, but the weeping women did not notice.

_Arasmon's playing guides the fishermen home, though the women are too distressed to appreciate it._

## Links

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